The majestic views of Pikes Peak are mesmerizing and with trains zipping by to the west, the trail transports you to a simpler time.
If you’re lucky, you’ll see elk, mule deer, coyotes, squirrels and a variety of birds.
Greenland was once a bustling village and shipping point. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad were built through the area in 1871. A few years later, the 20-acre town was thriving with two general stores, a post office, a school, and even a saloon. Two railroad stations shipped out livestock, potatoes, grains, milk, building stones and pottery. The town began to decline in the 1930s, but the ranching industry has survived.
Ten miles of trails now wind through the rolling grasslands and pine forests that surround Greenland. The 3,600 acre open space park is west of Interstate 25 at exit 167. If you travel between Denver and Colorado Springs as much as I do, the Greenland trail is a perfect place to squeeze in a run. The park is right off the interstate in southern Douglas County, so you don’t waste travel time when you’re in a rush. The majestic views of Pikes Peak are mesmerizing and with trains zipping by to the west, the trail transports you to a simpler time… and once on the trail, the interstate to the east is hardly noticable. If you’re lucky, you’ll see elk, mule deer, coyotes, squirrels and a variety of birds.
For an 8.2-mile run, follow the Kipps Loop Trail. Start at the Greenland trail head at 6,908 feet. The trail will be fairly level for the first mile, then you’ll take a left turn at the fork in the trail and head south. You’ll gain about 500 feet in elevation by the time the trail turns west and meets the Greenland Trail. Turn right onto the Greenland Trail, which travels north until it meets the parking lot.
Another option is to follow the railroad along the rolling hills of the Greenland Trail. The wide, dirt trail travels south, then meets County Line Road at the four mile mark. Benches and picnic tables dot the trail, so if you’re out for a family hike, there’s plenty of places to stop for a rest or a snack. At County Line Road you can turn around and run the four miles back to the parking lot. For more of a challenge, you can cross the road and then run for about one mile to the trailhead at Palmer Lake.
The trail is also open to mountain bikers and horseback riders, although it’s never been crowded with either on the days that I’ve visited. At the trailhead, there’s plenty of parking for both cars and horse trailers. A large picnic shelter has been built that resembles the town’s old mercantile building. You can read more about the trail and the history of the area at the picnic area.